Moriah

The chosen of Jehovah. Some contend that Mount Gerizim is meant, but most probably we are to regard this as one of the hills of Jerusalem. Here Solomon’s temple was built, on the spot that had been the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite (2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 2 Chr. 3:1). It is usually included in Zion, to the north-east of which it lay, and from which it was separated by the Tyropoean valley. This was “the land of Moriah” to which Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2). It has been supposed that the highest point of the temple hill, which is now covered by the Mohammedan Kubbetes-Sakhrah, or “Dome of the Rock,” is the actual site of Araunah’s threshing-floor. Here also, one thousand years after Abraham, David built an altar and offered sacrifices to God. (See JERUSALEM; NUMBERING THE PEOPLE.)

(chosen by Jehovah).

MORI'AH (chosen of Jehovah?). The land where Abraham was directed to go and offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Gen 22:2. A mount on which Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem. 2 Chr 3:1. It was in the eastern part of the city, overlooking the valley of the Kedron, and where was the threshing-floor of Araunah, 2 Sam 24:24; 1 Chr 21:24. It lay north-east of Zion, from which it was separated by the Tyropoeon valley. Solomon erected the temple upon the levelled summit of the rock, and then immense walls were erected from its base on the four sides, and the interval between them and the sides filled in with earth or built up with vaults, so as to form on the top a large area on a level with the temple. Most authorities agree in regarding this as the place whither Abraham went to offer Isaac, and therefore identical with No. 1, above. Samaritan tradition, however, claims that the place of Abraham's altar was on Mount Gerizim, and Stanley and Grove are inclined to accept the Samaritan claim: but the arguments in favor of this view are far from satisfactory. For a description of Moriah of Jerusalem, upon which now stands the Mohammedan mosque of Omar, see IV. Topography, under Jerusalem.

bitterness of the Lord

MORI'AH (chosen of Jehovah?). The land where Abraham was directed to go and offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Gen 22:2. A mount on which Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem. 2 Chr 3:1. It was in the eastern part of the city, overlooking the valley of the Kedron, and where was the threshing-floor of Araunah, 2 Sam 24:24; 1 Chr 21:24. It lay north-east of Zion, from which it was separated by the Tyropoeon valley. Solomon erected the temple upon the levelled summit of the rock, and then immense walls were erected from its base on the four sides, and the interval between them and the sides filled in with earth or built up with vaults, so as to form on the top a large area on a level with the temple. Most authorities agree in regarding this as the place whither Abraham went to offer Isaac, and therefore identical with No. 1, above. Samaritan tradition, however, claims that the place of Abraham's altar was on Mount Gerizim, and Stanley and Grove are inclined to accept the Samaritan claim: but the arguments in favor of this view are far from satisfactory. For a description of Moriah of Jerusalem, upon which now stands the Mohammedan mosque of Omar, see IV. Topography, under Jerusalem.